The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-12-13
THE BOND ROBBERY.
BY JOE HAWKINS.

TO some old couple who, after having passed
1aborious life, had retired here for peace and
content.
Still the shadow of death had passed over
the little house, and as l rode up to the gate
one morning 1 caught glmps of q pale-faced
young girl, with her long, disheveled hair about
her neck and shoulders, and her eyes red with
weeping, who was looking down the road with
anxious eyes.
I left the carriage hastily, and rather smart
looking young man, who offered to take charge
OF the horse, took my place.
The interior of the cottage was in keeping
with the outer adornments, which had been so
lavishly supplied by nature; but the blinds
were closely drawn, and there was an air Of
gloomy depression that was almost suffocating.
The young girl had opened the door for me,
and she drew back with graceful bow as l
entered, but, without speaking, pointed the way
to an lner room.
She seemed overwhelmed by some recent
Sriefthat deprived her of the power of making
an effort of the common courtesies- naturally
expected Of one apparently well bred.
But she was relieved of her embarrassment
by an elderly lady, who came forward and well
coined me as one who mad been long and anXi-
Ously expected
A note from the chief of the Chicago police,
introducing me, informed them that had been
detailed to visit the house, and that the nature
OF the case had been contided to me.
GiJOuiSu secrecy upon tIelll IT'S 10 lily real
character, instructing them to answer any in
quiries by saying that was a distant connec-
ton of Godfrey Holmes, who now lay lifeless
under the roof, as the doctor had said, from
the effects of poison.
had secretly finished these preliminaries
when the young man who had taken charge OF
my horse strobe into the room.
He was introduced as Charles Saxby, and
was muscular rather handsome man, with
piercing gray eyes, and an expression of con-
siderable intelligence.
He was such person as I would have Sc
1ected for any employment requiring large
amount of endurance and self-posseSSion.
There was certain easy GOODNESS in his man.
ner that led me to think he had not been bred
jim the country, and subsequently learned that
he had been student at law in an eastern col
lege, and had come west for the double purpose
of recuperating his health and pursuing his
studies more cheaply.
The family at the cottage had consisted of
Godfrey Holmes, now deceased, a widowed
sister of his deceased wife, and his daughter
Amelia.
Upon the death of his. beloved wife, Mr..
Holmes had declared his intention of renain-
ing widower, and his wife's sister. q quiet,
unassuming woman had taken charge of his
housekeeping.
Amelia, the daughter, was now in her seven
teenth year, her figure very elegant and her
appearance graceful.
Her face was very sweet; her eyes dark
brown, and abundant hair of the same color
was tWined about her head.
One would have thought the natural conse-
quence of being thrown almost constantly into
the society Of as handsome man as SaXby,
she woald have lost her heart to him.
But the very opposite to this was the fact,
and he could have left the place at any NOM
ent without regret upon her part Her father,
however, had been much engaged by him, and
had often limited to his housekeener that he
was sure he would be quite satisfied with such
q son-in-law.
The entire nighborhood Shared in this good
II; I
make such a splendid match, they said.
Both were so handsome; intelligent; so
similar in their tastes; besides, were they not
admirably matched as to worldly prospects.
Saxby had no wealth, it is true; but he came
of family of influence, and with the fortune
Mr.. Holmes would be able to give, he could
rise high in the world Amelia did not need
to marry for money, for though her father
possessed a little landed property. was he not
Eich in the best securities of the government?
So, indeed, he had been; but upon the very
night Of his decease, all his stocks and bonds,
gold and mortgages, and his private papers
had disappeared, and no one could tell width
er they had flown.
Here, then, were the two terrible circum-
stances of robbery and suspected murder,
combining to bring utter desolation and ruin
20 the family, so peaceful but few brief
hours before.
1t is little wonder that the grief-stricken
girl had stood pale and motionlesS in my pres
ence, when she knew the occasion Of my COM
ing
About an hour after my arrival, carriage
was driven up to the farmhouse, and two
portly gentlemen i'll black coats, ali2hted and
came into the cottage.
They carried two small cases with them
which brought disgreeable membranes to
me, for ! knew they contained the giittering
frepanning knives and scalpels, which had
been displayed before my gaze on numerous
painful occasions.
Soon aiterward the coroner arrived, accom-
panied by a number Of the neighbors, from
whom he proceeded to impannel jury.
While her aunt was busy receiving these in
diyidual5 had an opportunity for short in
terview with Amelia, and L learned from her
at that time much that was useful III my sub
Sequent investigations.
The post-mortem examination was at length
concluded, and, somewhat to my surprise, the
surgeons declared that the opinion Of the old
gentleman's physician, that death had resulted
from poisoning, was incorrect.
Death had superyened from sudden conges-
ton of the heart, there was not the slightest
trace Of foul pay, and the necessary certificate
for iuterment was granted
When L subsequently learned that Mr..
Holmes had suddenly fallen dead, and that his
doctor had not reached him until long after
the breath had left the body, did not think
this conclusion so strange
1t relieved me from disagreeable weight
for cases OF poisoning are always accompanied
by distressful circumstances; and l now had
only TO inquire into the disappearance of the
old gentleman s box OF yaluables.
Tho loss of these would leave Amelia and
the old lady in poverty, for the latter was en-
tirely dependent upon her brother-in-law, who
had no living relatives save these two.
The deceased had placed no faith in the
banks and had always kept the small steel
bound box III his sleeping room.
He had shown the contents TO lis daughter
and her aunt upon various occasions, and when
they had demonstrated with him about keep.
ing so much value in so insecure place, the
old man had smiled at their fears.
He had depended largely for the safety OF
the box upon the fact that all persons. save
those Immediately connected with him, were
ignorant OF lis having these treasures.
Several persons had been about the house
on the night Of his decease and the larger
number had been more or less in The bedroom.
Amelia, young SaXby and several others
were mentioned By tie Old lady IN particular;
hut she declared that she would suspect her
self or the ether members Of the household as
soon as one Of the ueigh00Is.
They were entirely ignorant Of the existence